Gamecocks fall hard to No. 4 Florida

The stat sheets are being shredded, the video is being erased. Magnets are sweeping over hard drives and memories are being wiped. Florida fumigated the O’Connell Center 75-36 on Wednesday night, eradicating all evidence of the Gamecocks.

South Carolina's coach Frank Martin wipes his face during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Florida in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. Florida won 75-36.
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South Carolina guard Bruce Ellington (23) shoots over Florida forward Will Yeguete (15) and Kenny Boynton (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. Florida won 75-36.
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Florida center Patric Young shoots over South Carolina forwards Mindaugas Kacinas (25) and Lakeem Jackson (30) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. Florida won 75-36.
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Florida forward Will Yeguete (15) tries to knock the ball out of the hands of South Carolina's Michael Carrera (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013.
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Florida guard Mike Rosario (3) laughs in front of the South Carolina bench after scoring a three-point basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013.
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Florida guard Mike Rosario (3) goes to the basket to score against South Carolina's forward Lakeem Jackson (30) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013.
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Florida guard Scottie Wilbekin (5) works the ball as he moves around South Carolina forward Lakeem Jackson (30) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. Florida won 75-36.
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Florida guard Kenny Boynton (1) shoots over South Carolina forward RJ Slawson (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013.
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South Carolina guard Eric Smith (5) gets past Florida guard Mike Rosario (3) to score during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013.
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Florida forward/center Erik Murphy (33) goes to the basket as South Carolina forward Michael Carrera (24) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013.
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The stat sheets are being shredded, the video is being erased. Magnets are sweeping over hard drives and memories are being wiped.

No. 4 Florida, it would seem, is a very, very good basketball team. USC is, well, not as good.

Florida fumigated the O’Connell Center 75-36 on Wednesday night, eradicating all evidence of the Gamecocks, so if you live and die with USC, now is probably a good time to stop reading.

“I don’t think you guys need me to explain we got an absolute rear-whoopin’” said USC coach Frank Martin, who did not use the word “rear.”

It was the worst loss in SEC history for USC, eclipsing a 38-point setback (87-48) against Kentucky on Jan. 16, 2007.

It was the fewest points USC (12-8, 2-5) has scored in an SEC game. In losing by more points (39) than they scored (36), the Gamecocks also handed Martin his worst loss as a head coach.

“We didn’t do a good job,” Martin continued. “They’re real good, don’t misunderstand me. I don’t want to take anything away from Florida. They neutralized us.”

The Gators, coming off consecutive Elite Eight appearances, continued to display the dominance they’ve shown against the rest of an overmatched conference.

Florida (17-2, 7-0) entered Wednesday with an average victory margin of more than 26 points in SEC play. The Gators surpassed that figure on a Kenny Boyton 3-point goal less than two minutes into the second half for 38-10 lead.

Florida pushed ahead by 30 points (43-13) moments later on a Patric Young dunk, then expanded its lead to 40 points (62-20) on Michael Frazier’s trey at the 8:56 mark.

When walk-on Jacob Kurtz picked off Bruce Ellington and raced for an easy basket with 2:49 remaining, Florida pushed its lead to 46 points, 73-27.

“What I’ve tried to get across to these guys is, when you’re up by a large margin, that does not give you the right to not do your job,” Florida coach Billy Donovan said.

That is a lesson Florida routinely has put into practice against USC. The Gators’ previous SEC best against USC was an 84-50 thrashing on Jan. 13, 2007, three days prior to the Kentucky debacle.

USC closed with a 9-point flurry over the final two minutes, matching its production during the first 18 minutes of the game.

“We were thinking about coming back; thinking positive,” said USC freshman Michael Carrera, who scored the team’s final four points to be the only Gamecock to reach double figures with 13 points.

“(Florida) had more experience than us and we played a bad game,” he added.

Kenny Boynton and Mike Rosario each had 15 points for Florida. The Gators outrebounded USC 38-24 and shot 52.8 percent while limiting the Gamecocks to 31.1 percent.

During the first half, USC missed 18 of 21 shots from the field, including all seven 3-point attempts. The Gamecocks committed 17 turnovers, 13 coming on Florida steals.

Essentially

“They’re real good,” Martin said. “The more I studied them on tape, the more I realized there’s a reason they’ve played as well as they have this year.

“And when they play here in this building,” Martin concluded, “they take it to even another level.”